Ireland's media regulator Coimisiún na Meán has launched a funding call to support training in fact-checking, prebunking and debunking for journalists and media professionals across Ireland during 2026, as reported by Dig Watch, forming part of the regulator's Media Skills and Development Programme.

The scheme is aimed at graduate, early-career and mid-career professionals working in news and current affairs, with eligible activities including training courses, mentorship programmes, internships and collaborative projects designed to strengthen fact-checking and verification skills across the sector.

Applications are open to academic institutions, accredited bodies and representative organisations, including partnerships involving media organisations. All funded activities must be delivered in Ireland during 2026, with the application window closing on 2 July 2026.

The fund supports objectives outlined in Ireland's National Counter Disinformation Strategy, positioning the initiative within a broader national framework for strengthening media resilience and evidence-based reporting across the country's journalism sector.

Fact-checking, verification and disinformation response skills are becoming increasingly important as journalists navigate information environments shaped by social media, generative AI and coordinated influence campaigns. The funding is designed to build the capacity of news organisations to identify and counter misleading or false information at a time when the volume and sophistication of disinformation continues to grow.

The scheme reflects a growing recognition among media regulators and policymakers that professional training infrastructure is a critical component of national information resilience, sitting alongside regulatory and legislative measures in addressing the challenge of disinformation at scale.

The initiative is structured to support professionals at multiple career stages, recognising that disinformation literacy and verification capability must be developed continuously rather than addressed through one-off interventions. By targeting both early-career journalists and more experienced practitioners, the fund aims to embed verification skills systematically across newsrooms and media organisations nationally.

Apply for funding and access full eligibility criteria in the complete article.